Psychology chapter 6

Question 1

classical conditioning

Answer 1

A form of associative learning in which an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus (e.g., a sound) with a biologically relevant stimulus (e.g., food), which results in a change in the response to the previously neutral stimulus (e.g., salivation).

Question 2

unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 2

A reflexive, unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus.

Question 3

conditioned response (CR)

Answer 3

The learned response that occurs to the conditioned stimulus.

Question 4

unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 4

A stimulus that elicits a reflexive response without learning.

Question 5

extinction

Answer 5

(1) in classical conditioning, the loss or weakening of a conditioned response when a conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus no longer occur together; (2) in operant conditioning, the weakening of an operant response when reinforcement is no longer available.

Question 6

discrimination

Answer 6

(1) occurs when an operant response is made to one stimulus but not to another, even if the stimuli are similar; (2) behaviour that disfavours or disadvantages members of a certain social group in some way.

Question 7

learning

Answer 7

A process by which behaviour or knowledge changes as a result of experience

Question 8

acquisition

Answer 8

The initial phase of learning in which a response is established.

Question 9

conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 9

A once-neutral stimulus that later elicits a conditioned response because it has a history of being paired with an unconditioned stimulus

Question 10

spontaneous recovery

Answer 10

The reoccurrence of a previously extinguished conditioned response, typically after some time has passed since extinction.

Question 11

generalization

Answer 11

Takes place when an operant response occurs in response to a new stimulus that is similar to the stimulus present during original learning.

Question 12

conditioned emotional responses

Answer 12

Consist of emotional and physiological responses that develop to a specific object or situation.

Question 13

conditioned taste aversion

Answer 13

Acquired dislike or disgust for a food or drink because it was paired with illness.

Question 14

Pavlovian conditioning

Answer 14

A form of associative learning in which an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus (e.g., a sound) with a biologically relevant stimulus (e.g., food), which results in a change in the response to the previously neutral stimulus (e.g., salivation).

Question 15

preparedness

Answer 15

The biological predisposition to rapidly learn a response to a particular class of stimuli.

Question 16

applied behaviour analysis

Answer 16

(ABA), which involves using close observation, prompting, and reinforcement to teach behaviours, often to people who experience difficulties and challenges owing to a developmental condition such as autism

Question 17

variable-interval schedule

Answer 17

the first response is reinforced following a variable amount of time

Question 18

negative reinforcement

Answer 18

involves the strengthening of a behaviour because it removes or diminishes a stimulus

Question 19

continuous reinforcement

Answer 19

every response made results in reinforcement

Question 20

discriminative stimulus

Answer 20

a cue or event that indicates that a response, if made, will be reinforced

Question 21

law of effect

Answer 21

the idea that responses followed by satisfaction will occur again in the same situation whereas those that are not followed by satisfaction become less likely

Question 22

shaping

Answer 22

the process of reinforcing successive approximations of a specific operant response

Question 23

punishment

Answer 23

a process that decreases the future probability of a response

Question 24

extinction (operant)

Answer 24

the reduction of a conditioned response when a conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus no longer occur together

Question 25

positive punishment

Answer 25

a process in which a behaviour decreases in frequency because it was followed by a particular, usually unpleasant, stimulus

Question 26

punisher

Answer 26

a stimulus that is contingent upon a response, and that results in a decrease in behaviour

Question 27

reinforcer

Answer 27

a stimulus that is contingent upon a response and that increases the probability of that response occurring again

Question 28

positive reinforcement

Answer 28

the strengthening of behaviour after potential reinforcers such as praise, money, or nourishment follow that behaviour

Question 29

negative punishment

Answer 29

occurs when a behaviour decreases because it removes or diminishes a particular stimulus

Question 30

variable-ratio schedule

Answer 30

the number of responses required to receive reinforcement varies according to an average

Question 31

schedules of reinforcement

Answer 31

rules that determine when reinforcement is available

Question 32

fixed-interval schedule

Answer 32

reinforces the first response occurring after a set amount of time passes

Question 33

primary reinforcer

Answer 33

consist of reinforcing stimuli that satisfy basic motivational needs—needs that affect an individual’s ability to survive (and, if possible, reproduce)

Question 34

avoidance learning

Answer 34

a specific type of negative reinforcement that removes the possibility that a stimulus will occur

Question 35

partial reinforcement effect

Answer 35

refers to a phenomenon in which organisms that have been conditioned under partial reinforcement resist extinction longer than those conditioned under continuous reinforcement

Question 36

chaining

Answer 36

linking together two or more shaped behaviours into a more complex action or sequence of actions

Question 37

escape learning

Answer 37

occurs if a response removes a stimulus that is already present

Question 38

fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 38

reinforcement is delivered after a specific number of responses have been completed

Question 39

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Answer 39

only a certain number of responses are rewarded, or a certain amount of time must pass before reinforcement is available

Question 40

reinforcement

Answer 40

a process in which an event or reward that follows a response increases the likelihood of that response occurring again

Question 41

secondary reinforcer

Answer 41

consist of stimuli that acquire their reinforcing effects only after we learn that they have value

Question 42

generalization (operant)

Answer 42

a process in which a response that originally occurred for a specific stimulus also occurs for different, though similar, stimuli

Question 43

discrimination (operant)

Answer 43

occurs when an organism learns to respond to one original discriminative stimulus but not to new stimuli that may be similar to the original stimulus

Question 44

operant conditioning

Answer 44

a type of learning in which behaviour is influenced by consequences

Question 45

classical conditioning (Pavlovian conditioning)

Answer 45

a form of associative learning in which an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus (e.g., a sound) with a biologically relevant stimulus (e.g., food), which results in a change in the response to the previously neutral stimulus (e.g., salivation)

Question 46

conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 46

a once-neutral stimulus that later elicits a conditioned response because it has a history of being paired with an unconditioned stimulus

Question 47

discrimination (Pavlovian)

Answer 47

(1) occurs when an operant response is made to one stimulus but not to another, even if the stimuli are similar; (2) behaviour that disfavours or disadvantages members of a certain social group in some way extinction (Pavlovian)

Question 48

unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 48

a reflexive, unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus

Question 49

generalization (Pavlovian)

Answer 49

takes place when an operant response occurs in response to a new stimulus that is similar to the stimulus present during original learning

Question 50

conditioned response (CR)

Answer 50

the learned response that occurs to the conditioned stimulus

Question 51

spontaneous recovery

Answer 51

the reoccurrence of a previously extinguished conditioned response, typically after some time has passed since extinction

Question 52

latent inhibition

Answer 52

occurs when frequent experience with a stimulus before it is paired with a US makes it less likely that conditioning will occur after a single episode of illness

Question 53

acquisition

Answer 53

the initial phase of learning in which a response is established

Question 54

unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 54

a stimulus that elicits a reflexive response without learning

Question 55

preparedness

Answer 55

the biological predisposition to rapidly learn a response to a particular class of stimuli

Question 56

conditioned taste aversion

Answer 56

acquired dislike or disgust for a food or drink because it was paired with illness

Question 57

conditioned emotional response

Answer 57

consist of emotional and physiological responses that develop to a specific object or situation